The property rights of ordinary Missourians have eroded over the years. The founding principles that established our nation held that individual rights must be protected against the majority. This ideal once guided Missouri’s Supreme Court, as well. Missouri needs to cultivate a renewed respect for the freedoms of all.
Research shows that judicial independence and legal system quality matter for economic growth, and that a state’s legal system outcomes depend in part on how judges are selected. A comparison of judicial selection methods across states shows that the “Missouri Plan” fares better than alternatives like partisan and nonpartisan elections.
Although Missouri’s Textbook Transparency Act is intended to lower the costs of higher education, the actual provisions of this bill will not achieve that purpose. Informational mandates and regulation of the ways that textbooks can be sold would decrease marginal producer profits, in many cases passing those costs on to students.
Some municipalities in Saint Louis County have filed suit to overturn a state law granting counties more tax increment financing (TIF) authority. However, counties are better positioned than municipalities to make good decisions about the use of TIF, and have a history of using these and other tax incentives more selectively.
Although the economic growth benefits of tax credits are easy to see, it’s harder to see their drawbacks. Looking more carefully at the evidence and applying basic economics shows that lowering tax rates across the board is much more efficient at encouraging growth than singling out a few credit recipients at the expense of everybody else.
Missouri is one of only three states that require a 10-percent minimum ethanol blend (E-10) for retail gasoline sold within the state. The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) recently released a study purporting to demonstrate the positive economic benefits of the state's ethanol mandate for Missouri consumers. The study claimed that Missourians will save more than $285 million through ethanol-induced fuel cost reductions in 2008 and nearly $2 billion in present value during the following decade. The MCMC study ignores important effects of the E-10 mandate, however, most notably the documented decrease in fuel efficiency of E-10 blended fuel and the taxpayer cost of ethanol subsidies. We find that accounting for these costs significantly impacts the MCMC savings projections and would result in a net loss to Missouri consumers of almost $1 billion during the next decade. If one were to consider the additional impact of the E-10 mandate on higher food prices and CO2 gas emissions, these costs would be even higher.
For 68 years, Missouri has selected its Supreme Court judges through a system of merit selection dubbed the “Missouri Plan.” Today, 26 states use some form of this plan, most having abandoned partisan judicial elections amid concerns about the effects of political pressure on a fair and evenhanded application of the law. Recent debates about this process in Missouri have instigated many proposals for changes. Because judicial independence is critical to a well-functioning legal system, this study will analyze judicial selection and its effect on the quality of courts.
Successful societies and growing economies have always depended on efficient transportation. As cars have become more efficient, the fuel taxes used to fund the state’s highways have leveled off — but the transportation needs of the state have not. Other states have looked to the private sector to provide transportation infrastructure, as a means of augmenting gas taxes. The people of Missouri would be well-served if officials were to give this new paradigm strong consideration as the economy evolves. Public roads, funded by gas taxes, will be the primary model for transportation in Missouri far into the foreseeable future. However, the options that public-private partnerships facilitate should be a part of the discussion for future transportation projects and plans.
After rejecting rail transit proposals at the polls six different times, Kansas City voters approved a light-rail plan in November, 2006. This plan, however, has proven infeasible, with costs at least 50 percent greater than its promoters projected. Implementing the plan would require cutting bus service by as much as 40 percent. While the City Council formally repealed the plan in November, 2007, many people in Kansas City still believe that some form of light rail or streetcars would be worthwhile. A close look at other urban areas that have built light-rail transit during the past three decades offers many lessons for Kansas City transportation policymakers, demonstrating that rail transit is more likely to worsen congestion than solve it.
Tax credit programs have helped to reduce inequality of educational access in states where they have been adopted. In many cases, they have also helped save taxpayer dollars by lowering the per-student district costs of educating public school students. After the recent loss of accreditation of the Saint Louis Public School District, and several other metro-area districts, tuition tax credit programs offer a timely and effective way to help students and parents stuck in districts that are failing, or in receivership. This study looks at recent legislative efforts to reform Missouri's public schools, and surveys the results in other states that have adopted some form of tuition tax credit. The core of the study is its economic model, which calculates the effects that various implementations of a tuition tax credit might bring. If such a program were structured carefully, it could actually save the state money — in addition to providing greater access to improved educational opportunities for low-income families.
The Show-Me Institute is now seeking fall 2008 interns. Click here for details and an application form in PDF format. The application deadline is July 3.
Check out Show-Me Daily, the Show-Me Institute's new blog, where we provide fresh news and views on Missouri public policy every day.
How Much Money Will It Take to Give America Good Schools?
On April 17, the Show-Me Institute co-sponsored a seminar by James Guthrie, Ph.D., addressing the question, "How Much Money Will It Take to Give America Good Schools?" We'll post video of the event as soon as it's available!
Eminent Domain Amicus Brief
On Nov. 29, the Show-Me Institute filed a brief of amicus curiae in the Missouri Supreme Court eminent domain case City of Arnold v. Homer Tourkakis. Read SMI's argument in favor of strong property rights.
From Equity to Adequacy to Choice
On Oct. 30, the Show-Me Institute sponsored a conference about issues associated with public school finance and educational adequacy lawsuits. Visit the conference website to view the agenda, read working papers, and browse bios of presenting academics.
